"I know it seems far fetched cause Schroeder has been on the backburner it seems since we got him (and had high projections like Parise, Kane, exc.) But I could seem him in the mold of these 2 eventually myself."

I meant Briere and Cammalleri as those were the 2 I had spent the time talking about, I said that in brackets for a reason.

Been happy to see his defensive awareness but I think the thing that's been standing out to me is his passing ability. He makes GREAT passes and not infrequently.

Would like to see him shoot a bit more though. He almost seems hesitant to shoot and by the time he occasionally does, a lot of the time a defender has gotten in the lane. He needs to work on getting the same confidence he has at making passes at speed with shooting. And lose the hesitation.

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"Science is like an inoculation against charlatans who would have you believe whatever it is they tell you."- Neil deGrasse Tyson

Schroeder’s homecoming: Former University of Minnesota star showcasing his evolving game

By Ben Kuzma, The Province February 5, 2013

ST. PAUL, Minn. — There are two misconceptions about Jordan Schroeder. One he can quickly correct. The other remains a work in progress.

While the Vancouver Canucks centre was born in Prior Lake, Minn., he was raised in bordering Lakeville, which is only a 37-minute drive southwest from the Xcel Energy Center. That’s where the former University of Minnesota star will make a happy homecoming Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, a destination many thought the diminutive centre would never reach after being selected in the first round of the 2009 draft. After all, his 5-foot-8 frame was cited — ahead of an emerging speedy and smart game that is now far removed from being one-dimensional.

While Schroeder can’t change perception — or what may happen when Ryan Kesler and David Booth return, or a centre is acquired through a trade — he never changed his goal of gravitating toward a game that was foreign to his father, John, who played basketball, football and college baseball. And his mom, Deb, excelled in gymnastics and cross-country running.

Maybe dad saw a budding point guard.

“He put a basketball in my hands first and I told him no, I wanted to play hockey,” recalled the 22-year-old Schroeder, who started skating at age four and was playing by six. “We had a great neighbourhood and we’d basically play street hockey or pond hockey every day after school.

“The lake would freeze and we’d shovel it off and get a net out there and play for hours.”

In the State of Hockey that’s a common story, but Schroeder’s ascent isn’t common. He was always small on the ice and smart in school. But his biggest break didn’t come under the tutelage of legendary Golden Gophers coach Don Lucia or the U.S. National Team Development Program at Ann Arbor. Mich. It was his two years at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minn., where coach Tom Vannelli took a chance on a 14-year-old kid, who was playing against 18-year-olds. The military cadet prep school won one of its four state championships in 2006, with Schroeder paying back his coach’s confidence.

The Canucks will practise in Mendota Heights on Wednesday. How fitting.

“He gave me a chance in the eighth grade when nobody else would, because I was so young,” said Schroeder of Vannelli. “I proved to him and the whole state that I could play high school hockey. I watched the Stanley Cup playoffs growing up, and my favourite player was Joe Sakic. I had a poster of him on my wall because we didn’t have a team when the North Stars left (in 1993).

“So I grew up watching the Gophers and wanted to play there — that’s my dream. And hopefully, some day play in the NHL. It’s all kind of fallen into place.”

Yes, it has. But it’s been far from a straight-line transition.

Before Schroeder played his first regular-season game on Jan. 23, and collected his first assist two nights later, he had to become the consummate professional, develop a two-way game and leave that college comfort zone in the rear-view mirror. Schroeder had to realize that those 45 points he piled up in 32 games as the youngest member of the Gophers in 2008-09 were good enough to earn rookie-of-the-year honours, but they weren’t a ticket to the NHL.

The hopes were high but so were the disappointments. In the spring of 2011, when the Manitoba Moose were eliminated from the AHL playoffs, the Canucks summoned a number of players to Vancouver. Schroeder wasn’t one of them, because he didn’t deserve to be. Then, on Dec. 1, during the NHL lockout, he was a healthy scratch for the Chicago Wolves along with Zack Kassian. But after nine goals and 19 points in 30 AHL games this season, Schroeder got the call.

He has responded with a flair for creativity and responsibility. On Monday in Edmonton, Schroeder dodged Mark Fistric, who intended to deliver a sideboards check and instead left the Oilers defenceman with a back injury. During the Canucks’ 3-2 overtime victory, Schroeder also started on the second line.

“I’m glad they didn’t rush me,” he reasoned. “I’ve paid my dues in the minors and I’ve learned a lot and it’s been paying off. At the time, it’s: ‘What is going on?’ I want to be up there (recalled) and you realize that you’ve put in the work and deserve it. I even went into college early and a lot of people don’t even know that.”

Wolves coach Scott Arniel likes Schroeder’s straight-line approach in the NHL instead of the neutral-zone circling in the AHL. Hounding pucks, making plays and being responsible could keep him up — and not be sent back down to the minors.

“It’s his quickness and ability to use that to push the defence back,” said Arniel. “He looks comfortable and doesn’t look intimidated or out of his element. That’s a good sign.”

Schroeder knows he can’t give up much in the defensive zone and has to be on the right side of pucks. The points will come if that’s the thought process.

“I’m trying to gain as much trust from the coach — that’s part of the process that’s being going on for two years,” stressed Schroeder. “I’m learning to play a two-way game and now it kind of comes instinctively.”Schroeder was ranked ninth in the draft and dropped down to the Canucks at No. 22. Some teams questioned his size and ability to handle the rigours of the NHL.

“So far, he hasn’t looked out of place,” said Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. “We’re confident he’s going to continue to use what he has. He’s a smart and good player with a lot of intangibles.”

Ever since draft day I've been so impressed by JS' attitude and that article just fortifies it:

“I’m glad they didn’t rush me,” he reasoned. “I’ve paid my dues in the minors and I’ve learned a lot and it’s been paying off. At the time, it’s: ‘What is going on?’ I want to be up there (recalled) and you realize that you’ve put in the work and deserve it. I even went into college early and a lot of people don’t even know that.”

People were blaming his fall in the draft because of a bad interview, but I honestly don't get how. Judging by the way he has acted so far it must have been solely because of his size...

Oh well, better for the Canucks.

Hope he continues to be the player he is becoming & when the team is healthy I hope he gets a chance to play on a decent line (cough* Schroeder - Kesler - Booth *cough) and see how well his stats do...

& I hope he can score his first career goal in his home state! Go Schroeder.

Ever since draft day I've been so impressed by JS' attitude and that article just fortifies it:

People were blaming his fall in the draft because of a bad interview, but I honestly don't get how. Judging by the way he has acted so far it must have been solely because of his size...

Oh well, better for the Canucks.

Hope he continues to be the player he is becoming & when the team is healthy I hope he gets a chance to play on a decent line (cough* Schroeder - Kesler - Booth *cough) and see how well his stats do...

& I hope he can score his first career goal in his home state! Go Schroeder.

Me too, you can see the kid has serious character. And he is a hardworker, fits perfectly into our organization. Glad to see him doing well.

Hopefully he can move to wing so we can get a look at him on the 2nd but if not he is doing just fine on the 3rd line and has proven he is a top 9 capable player in this league.

I predicted him to score his 1st in Minny prior to last game, so I am hoping that predictions comes true

Ever since draft day I've been so impressed by JS' attitude and that article just fortifies it:

People were blaming his fall in the draft because of a bad interview, but I honestly don't get how. Judging by the way he has acted so far it must have been solely because of his size...

Oh well, better for the Canucks.

Hope he continues to be the player he is becoming & when the team is healthy I hope he gets a chance to play on a decent line (cough* Schroeder - Kesler - Booth *cough) and see how well his stats do...

& I hope he can score his first career goal in his home state! Go Schroeder.

I don't know if he's earned 2nd line time for when Booth and Kes get back ahead of say Burrows, kassian or even Raymond but I could see the lines of:

The more games he plays up here and the more I watch him, the happier I'm getting. He's doing all the right things to stay with the team even with Kesler/Booth returning IMO (as long as it works with the cap). Playing well defensively, working hard, getting chances (and if he keeps playing like that they WILL start going in), making great passes....

He's playing a good, hard nosed 200' game, doesn't look at all out of place/outmatched, isn't afraid to go to the net and I dare say is one of the reasons Raymond's having a good go at it so far. He's able to play at Raymond's speed and set up his pretty good shot with great passes.

I hope he sticks around. Those lines in my last post look damn good IMO and in this compressed season would allow us to roll four lines pretty easily. None of those has any huge drop off or deficiency.

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"Science is like an inoculation against charlatans who would have you believe whatever it is they tell you."- Neil deGrasse Tyson

The more games he plays up here and the more I watch him, the happier I'm getting. He's doing all the right things to stay with the team even with Kesler/Booth returning IMO (as long as it works with the cap). Playing well defensively, working hard, getting chances (and if he keeps playing like that they WILL start going in), making great passes....

He's playing a good, hard nosed 200' game, doesn't look at all out of place/outmatched, isn't afraid to go to the net and I dare say is one of the reasons Raymond's having a good go at it so far. He's able to play at Raymond's speed and set up his pretty good shot with great passes.

I hope he sticks around. Those lines in my last post look damn good IMO and in this compressed season would allow us to roll four lines pretty easily. None of those has any huge drop off or deficiency.

Well the thing is how I see it with Raymond, he plays better with people that can catch up to his speed regardless if it's schroeder helping or not just having that speedy centre alone helps with Raymond's overall game.

But up until now Schroeder is bound to score a goal soon he's been getting very many many chances haven't found the back in the net but don't worry I'm pretty sure he'll score 20+ easily in the next couple of years. I really like the fact that he goes to the net every time whenever he has the chance he's in front of the net I like that just wish he'd shoot more during those shoot not pass situations.

It hasn’t been an easy road to the NHL for Jordan Schroeder.Vancouver’s 2009 1st round selection (22nd overall) had to wait three years before making his debut in Canuck colours. After an impressive freshman debut with the University of Minnesota in 2008-09 (45 points in 35 games), Schroeder experienced the dreaded sophomore slump in 2009-10, finishing with only 28 points in 37 games. He decided to turn professional after that season, and his ups and downs continued in the AHL with Manitoba and Chicago between 2009 and 2013.What Schroeder lacks in height (at 5-foot-9, he gives up at least four or five inches to opposing centermen) he makes up for in smarts, speed, and strength. He has worked extremely hard each summer to add muscle to his frame, and that effort in the gym is paying off right now. Schroeder trains each summer with Kirk Olson, who runs the Total Hockey School in Minnesota. Olson is also the strength and conditioning coach for the Minnesota Wild, and he trains the likes of Zach Parise, Kyle Okposo, and Drew Stafford every off-season.Parise is well known for his tenacious style of play on the ice, and that tenacity and work ethic has been an inspiration for Schroeder. Like Parise, Schroeder has had to overcome a lack of height and size every step of the way. Even with the premium placed on speed in the NHL today, small players still have to work that much harder to make it.And we have seen this season with Zack Kassian just how important summer training is to in-season performance. Kassian benefitted tremendously from training with Daniel and Henrik Sedin last summer, as well as with highly regarded trainer Dave Orton back in Windsor, Ontario. Parise’s work ethic and determination have rubbed off on Schroeder over the past few summers.As he has been developing in the AHL, many Canucks fans have wondered where Schroeder would fit in Vancouver. With his lack of size, he didn’t seem like a suitable candidate for a checking line spot, especially with how Alain Vigneault likes to deploy his third and fourth lines (tough defensive situations, for the most part). However, Schroeder has proven that not only can he skate and make great plays offensively, but he is very smart in his own zone, and he knows where to be without the puck. That hockey sense allowed him to succeed in college and at the AHL level, and it has given Vigneault and the rest of the coaching staff the confidence to play him late in close games without worrying about how he will do against top opposing players.For comparison’s sake, Cody Hodgson was deployed in a primarily offensive role last season before getting dealt to Buffalo. Hodgson is a gifted offensive player, but his lack of foot speed made him a liability at even strength. The Canuck coaching staff didn’t play him like a typical third line center – Hodgson was given very little in the way of defensive responsibilities, as they fell mostly on Ryan Kesler, Max Lapierre, and Manny Malhotra. However, that isn’t going to be an issue with Schroeder.

He won’t be mistaken for Kesler in his own zone, but Schroeder has proven that he can make positive contributions in more ways than just on the scoresheet.

He might well be the 3rd line center we needed. Probably won't score at a 40 point pace but his linemates will be (Raymond and Hansen) which is a common theme on Cup winning teams - depth defence and 20 goal scorers on 3rd lines.

Would like to see this kid shoot more, but if he sticks with Raymond and the pair develop some chemistry then this team will have something it hasn't had in a long time - 3 solid chemistry pairings throughout the lineup. The Sedins on the top line, Kesler and Booth on the 2nd and now Schroeder and Raymond. Heck, if Higgins is placed on our 4th line with Lapierre there's another pairing with great, proven chemistry.

Raymond & Schroeder on a line in a 7-game playoff series is 100% scary.

Sure, Raymond has some OK stats right now, but we shouldn't forget about every playoff performance he's had ever. Schroeder has never played a single playoff game, and although he plays bigger than his size combining him with a player as soft as a marshmellow would be a mistake IMO.

If AV is going to trust Schroeder as the 3rd line center going into the playoffs, GMMG should be trying to get him a bigger winger (Brouwer? Stafford?).

Raymond & Schroeder on a line in a 7-game playoff series is 100% scary.

Sure, Raymond has some OK stats right now, but we shouldn't forget about every playoff performance he's had ever. Schroeder has never played a single playoff game, and although he plays bigger than his size combining him with a player as soft as a marshmellow would be a mistake IMO.

If AV is going to trust Schroeder as the 3rd line center going into the playoffs, GMMG should be trying to get him a bigger winger (Brouwer? Stafford?).

I think they'll be split up once Kesler and Booth are back. If Raymond continues to score, I can see him being rewarded by keeping him on the 2nd line and I think Schroeder will stick as the 3rd line centre with some gritty two way forwards like Higgins and Hansen.

If AV is going to trust Schroeder as the 3rd line center going into the playoffs, GMMG should be trying to get him a bigger winger

(I realize I didn't reply to your quote lol) What do you think about this for the playoffs? (His play should already guarantee his spot on the team, but I think his future lies on the wing; he's played wing before with the Wolves and he should be able to make it work)

1) Dan - Hank - Kass

2) Raymond - Kesler - Schroeder(J.S. works with Raymond, he has speed and passing to set both guys up, Kes can open space for them)

4) Higgins - Malhotra - Hansen (defensively capable line with great speed and that can score)

Edited by g@m3b0i, 10 February 2013 - 11:58 PM.

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John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.Jesus LOVES YOU!2012, meet Matthew 24:36-47!

14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

(I realize I didn't reply to your quote lol) What do you think about this for the playoffs? (His play should already guarantee his spot on the team, but I think his future lies on the wing; he's played wing before with the Wolves and he should be able to make it work)

1) Dan - Hank - Kass

2) Raymond - Kesler - Schroeder(J.S. works with Raymond, he has speed and passing to set both guys up, Kes can open space for them)

As others mentioned above, he just may be that 3rd line center that we were missing.

He could be the Chris Drury or the Scott Gomez for us - the young, small centers that just enter the league and play a big role on a championship-calibre team.

I'm gunna temper my expectations and just enjoy the ride. Saying he could be our Drury or Gomez is a bit of a stretch. Shredder is off to a good start so far but both those guys won the Calder (I think...). Having the best rookie of the season can help any team in the playoffs, Shredder isn't the best rookie of the year.

IMHO Kesler should be moved to wing where he had great success with Sundin and really started his journey to greatness. Schroeder shows to much skill and talent to waste, so put him between Kesler and Burrows or if he must play as a third line player keep him with Raymond and Hansen, speed kills

Anyone else really surprised by how much ice time Schroeder's been getting? I thought for sure his biggest obstacle would have been getting ice time under AV. (given his history with rookies, and preference for bigger veterans). To date, he's been getting an average of 14+ minutes a game, even with Kesler back in the lineup, albeit not at 100%. He beat out Lapierre, Ebbett, and Malhotra (While he was playing).

He got a lot of critism after failing to dominate in the AHL, but he's been a very solid player for us. Good speed, smarts, and a high skill set.

Anyone else really surprised by how much ice time Schroeder's been getting? I thought for sure his biggest obstacle would have been getting ice time under AV. (given his history with rookies, and preference for bigger veterans). To date, he's been getting an average of 14+ minutes a game, even with Kesler back in the lineup, albeit not at 100%. He beat out Lapierre, Ebbett, and Malhotra (While he was playing).

He got a lot of critism after failing to dominate in the AHL, but he's been a very solid player for us. Good speed, smarts, and a high skill set.

Not surprised because he always plays defense first. Every game you can see him break up a play in the d-zone and a few seconds later the Canucks are in the opposition's zone.

Not surprised because he always plays defense first. Every game you can see him break up a play in the d-zone and a few seconds later the Canucks are in the opposition's zone.

He's in the top five in the league for takeaways as a rookie.

But he's not shooting enough, look at guys like Conacher and Gallagher (similar to Schroeder's size) who are great offensively and fire whenever possible. I think Schroeder can be better than them.... He just needs to shoot.

Edited by LeanBeaf, 25 February 2013 - 05:26 PM.

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Sig too big.
"Being a Canuck fan, maybe sometime down the road be a Vancouver Canuck.... that would conquer all my dreams"
-Milan Lucic

Anyone else really surprised by how much ice time Schroeder's been getting? I thought for sure his biggest obstacle would have been getting ice time under AV. (given his history with rookies, and preference for bigger veterans). To date, he's been getting an average of 14+ minutes a game, even with Kesler back in the lineup, albeit not at 100%. He beat out Lapierre, Ebbett, and Malhotra (While he was playing).

He got a lot of critism after failing to dominate in the AHL, but he's been a very solid player for us. Good speed, smarts, and a high skill set.

Kesler just cam eback into the fold after two major surgeries so AV is babying him atm.Lapierre just hasn't been good at all this year. Taking too many undiscipline penalities all at bad times of the game, most on ones that often cost us a goal. He's already take 3 that costed us, One in San Jose = Pavelski goal that crushed our chances to make a comeback. Minnesota, Setoguchi's goal broke our lead in half when we had all the momentum and the other one against St Louis equaling in Andy McDonald's goal i believe or one of the blues goals. I dont see AV asking MG to bring him back for next year.Malhotra, well for obvious reasonsEbbett, he is just a plug in general.

The exciting thing about Schroeder is that you just know the points are going to come soon because of his talent level. Right now, he's just doing all the little things to stick in the NHL. We're seeing the effective Schroeder, the defensively responsible Schroeder. However, the offensive dynamo Schroeder is close to arriving. It might not be next year, or even the year after, but I fully believe if given the right opportunities he could develop into a top line player this team can build around for the future. He's got the speed, he's got the skill, he's got the vision, and maybe most importantly, it seems he does have that rare ability to overcome the size deficit and still make an impact in the NHL. All he's missing is the opportunity. Hopefully soon, maybe starting next year, he gets a shot on the wing on the 2nd line and we'll see where he goes from there.